How Ecomflow Transformed 3PL Billing from Days to Minutes with billr.io

How Ecomflow Transformed 3PL Billing from Days to Minutes with billr.io

25,000+ daily shipments

25,000+ daily shipments

processed with complete accuracy and transparency

From 5 days to 5 hours

From 5 days to 5 hours

monthly billing cycle transformation

150+ global brands

150+ global brands

served with customized billing models

"What really sold us on billr was their partnership approach. Other billing platforms told us what they could and couldn't do - take it or leave it. Billr listened to our exact requirements and built the solution around our business. That's exactly what we needed for our unique direct-from-China fulfillment model."

Nolan Rook

Chief Technology Officer, Ecomflow

The Challenge: Revolutionizing China-Direct Fulfillment Billing

The Challenge: Revolutionizing China-Direct Fulfillment Billing

The Challenge: Revolutionizing China-Direct Fulfillment Billing

The Challenge: Revolutionizing China-Direct Fulfillment Billing

Ecomflow has disrupted traditional supply chains by offering tech-enabled fulfillment from their China warehouse to 65+ countries, helping 150+ brands achieve 4-10 day worldwide delivery while dramatically reducing inventory costs through integrated dashboards and real-time visibility.

Ecomflow has disrupted traditional supply chains by offering tech-enabled fulfillment from their China warehouse to 65+ countries, helping 150+ brands achieve 4-10 day worldwide delivery while dramatically reducing inventory costs through integrated dashboards and real-time visibility.

The Complexity of China-Direct Commerce

The Complexity of China-Direct Commerce

The Complexity of China-Direct Commerce

The Complexity of China-Direct Commerce

Unlike traditional 3PLs with local warehouses, Ecomflow's direct-from-China model introduces unique billing challenges:

Unlike traditional 3PLs with local warehouses, Ecomflow's direct-from-China model introduces unique billing challenges:

•

Multi-currency complexity: Processing payments in USD, EUR, GBP while operating costs are in RMB

Multi-currency complexity: Processing payments in USD, EUR, GBP while operating costs are in RMB

•

Dynamic international shipping: Air freight rates that fluctuate daily, last-mile delivery costs varying by country, and customs/tariff calculations

Dynamic international shipping: Air freight rates that fluctuate daily, last-mile delivery costs varying by country, and customs/tariff calculations

•

Brand-specific requirements: 150+ brands each with unique pricing models, from simple per-order fees to complex volume-based tiers

Brand-specific requirements: 150+ brands each with unique pricing models, from simple per-order fees to complex volume-based tiers

•

China-specific peak seasons: Chinese New Year adjustments, Singles Day volume spikes, and factory-direct pricing variations

China-specific peak seasons: Chinese New Year adjustments, Singles Day volume spikes, and factory-direct pricing variations

•

Transparent origin management: Some brands hiding China origin requiring different billing structures

Transparent origin management: Some brands hiding China origin requiring different billing structures

"We're not just a warehouse moving boxes," explains the Ecomflow team. "We're enabling brands to ship directly from production to customers worldwide. Every brand has different margin requirements, different service levels, and different ways they want to see their costs broken down."

The Breaking Point

The Breaking Point

The Breaking Point

The Breaking Point

As Ecomflow scaled to 25,000+ daily shipments across 65+ countries, their billing infrastructure couldn't keep pace:

As Ecomflow scaled to 25,000+ daily shipments across 65+ countries, their billing infrastructure couldn't keep pace:

•

Manual reconciliation nightmare: Matching thousands of international carrier invoices with quoted rates

Manual reconciliation nightmare: Matching thousands of international carrier invoices with quoted rates

•

Brand confusion: Each of the 150+ brands demanding different invoice formats and cost breakdowns

Brand confusion: Each of the 150+ brands demanding different invoice formats and cost breakdowns

•

No inventory visibility: Brands couldn't see real-time costs impacting their margins

No inventory visibility: Brands couldn't see real-time costs impacting their margins

•

Currency conversion chaos: Managing payments and costs across multiple currencies

Currency conversion chaos: Managing payments and costs across multiple currencies

•

Peak season disasters: Chinese New Year and Singles Day creating billing backlogs

Peak season disasters: Chinese New Year and Singles Day creating billing backlogs

The Solution: A Partnership Built for Global Scale

After evaluating multiple billing platforms, Ecomflow chose billr.io for a fundamental reason: billr was the only platform that understood the complexity of China-direct fulfillment.

After evaluating multiple billing platforms, Ecomflow chose billr.io for a fundamental reason: billr was the only platform that understood the complexity of China-direct fulfillment.

Why billr Was Different

"When billr.io reached out, Ecomflow immediately recognized the solution to problems they hadn't even started formally addressing. Unlike traditional billing platforms, billr offered something revolutionary: build the billing system around EcomFlow's exact operations, not force them into a pre-built box."

This partnership approach meant:

This partnership approach meant:

•

Custom-built for China fulfillment: Understanding the nuances of shipping from production facilities directly to consumers

Custom-built for China fulfillment: Understanding the nuances of shipping from production facilities directly to consumers

•

Multi-brand architecture: Supporting 150+ brands with completely different pricing models

Multi-brand architecture: Supporting 150+ brands with completely different pricing models

•

Real-time currency handling: Automatic RMB to USD/EUR/GBP conversions with margin protection

Real-time currency handling: Automatic RMB to USD/EUR/GBP conversions with margin protection

•

Transparent documentation: Every shipment, tracking number, and tariff visible to brands

Transparent documentation: Every shipment, tracking number, and tariff visible to brands

•

Transparent origin management: Some brands hiding China origin requiring different billing structures

Transparent origin management: Some brands hiding China origin requiring different billing structures

The Architecture That Powers Global Commerce

Billr's event-driven architecture proved perfect for Ecomflow's direct-from-China model:

Billr's event-driven architecture proved perfect for Ecomflow's direct-from-China model:

This partnership approach meant:

This partnership approach meant:

This partnership approach meant:

This partnership approach meant:

1.

Factory-to-customer tracking: Every step from production facility to customer doorstep tracked and billed

Factory-to-customer tracking: Every step from production facility to customer doorstep tracked and billed

2.

Multi-carrier integration: Seamless handling of international air freight and last-mile delivery partners

Multi-carrier integration: Seamless handling of international air freight and last-mile delivery partners

3.

Brand-specific dashboards: Each brand sees only their data with customized cost breakdowns

Brand-specific dashboards: Each brand sees only their data with customized cost breakdowns

4.

Inventory cost visibility: Real-time tracking of inventory holding costs to optimize cash flow

Inventory cost visibility: Real-time tracking of inventory holding costs to optimize cash flow

5.

Transparent origin management: Some brands hiding China origin requiring different billing structures

Transparent origin management: Some brands hiding China origin requiring different billing structures

The Partnership: Building Together, Not Just Implementing

What sets billr apart is the true partnership approach. Rather than a traditional implementation with rigid timelines, billr worked alongside Ecomflow to understand every nuance of their operation - from the different air freight carriers to the unique rules each finance person had in their head.

What sets billr apart is the true partnership approach. Rather than a traditional implementation with rigid timelines, billr worked alongside Ecomflow to understand every nuance of their operation - from the different air freight carriers to the unique rules each finance person had in their head.

'Without Dominik, we wouldn't have a solution that would work,' notes the Ecomflow team. 'Having someone who took the time to really understand our operation, who already thought of fallback mechanisms and edge cases - that's what made the difference.'

The collaborative process focused on:

•

Understanding 60+ country shipping variations with different weight classes

•

Mapping complex pricing sheets that varied by carrier, destination, and service level

Mapping complex pricing sheets that varied by carrier, destination, and service level

•

Building automatic edge case detection for the 1% of shipments with anomalies

Building automatic edge case detection for the 1% of shipments with anomalies

•

Creating complete transparency where none existed before

Creating complete transparency where none existed before

The Results: Enabling the Direct-from-China Revolution

Immediate Operational Impact

•

Complete billing transparency: For the first time, Ecomflow has full visibility into how every invoice is generated

Complete billing transparency: For the first time, Ecomflow has full visibility into how every invoice is generated

•

99.8% accuracy matching fulfillment: Supporting 150+ brands with completely different pricing models

99.8% accuracy matching fulfillment: Supporting 150+ brands with completely different pricing models

•

API-powered integration: Billing data now powers other innovations, like transparent shipping time displays for clients

API-powered integration: Billing data now powers other innovations, like transparent shipping time displays for clients

Enhanced Brand Experience

•

Complete transparency: Every brand can track costs from factory to customer doorstep

Complete transparency: Every brand can track costs from factory to customer doorstep

•

Customized invoicing: Each of 150+ brands receives invoices in their preferred format

Customized invoicing: Each of 150+ brands receives invoices in their preferred format

•

Multi-currency clarity: Automatic handling of RMB costs and USD/EUR/GBP revenues

Multi-currency clarity: Automatic handling of RMB costs and USD/EUR/GBP revenues

Scalability for Global Expansion

•

65+ countries supported: Billing infrastructure ready for any destination Ecomflow serves

65+ countries supported: Billing infrastructure ready for any destination Ecomflow serves

•

Chinese New Year ready: Automated adjustments for seasonal variations and peak periods

Chinese New Year ready: Automated adjustments for seasonal variations and peak periods

•

Instant pricing updates: When air freight rates change, billing adjusts immediately

Instant pricing updates: When air freight rates change, billing adjusts immediately

"Billr understood that we're not just another 3PL," notes the team. "We're revolutionizing how brands think about inventory and fulfillment. They built a billing system that supports our mission."

"Billr understood that we're not just another 3PL," notes the team. "We're revolutionizing how brands think about inventory and fulfillment. They built a billing system that supports our mission."

The Partnership Advantage

What sets billr apart for innovative 3PLs like Ecomflow:

What sets billr apart for innovative 3PLs like Ecomflow:

True Partnership from Day One

'The support has been amazing. You guys really think with us about our custom setup. Another SaaS won't think that far about how our company operates.'

'The support has been amazing. You guys really think with us about our custom setup. Another SaaS won't think that far about how our company operates.'

Building Trust Through Involvement

'Because Dominik was very involved, we could trust things were happening. Even though the product wasn't exactly how we wanted yet, we knew it would get there.'

Enhanced Brand Experience

•

Complete transparency: Every brand can track costs from factory to customer doorstep

Complete transparency: Every brand can track costs from factory to customer doorstep

•

Customized invoicing: Each of 150+ brands receives invoices in their preferred format

Customized invoicing: Each of 150+ brands receives invoices in their preferred format

•

Multi-currency clarity: Automatic handling of RMB costs and USD/EUR/GBP revenues

Multi-currency clarity: Automatic handling of RMB costs and USD/EUR/GBP revenues

Scalability for Global Expansion

•

65+ countries supported: Billing infrastructure ready for any destination Ecomflow serves

65+ countries supported: Billing infrastructure ready for any destination Ecomflow serves

•

Chinese New Year ready: Automated adjustments for seasonal variations and peak periods

Chinese New Year ready: Automated adjustments for seasonal variations and peak periods

•

Instant pricing updates: When air freight rates change, billing adjusts immediately

Instant pricing updates: When air freight rates change, billing adjusts immediately

"Billr understood that we're not just another 3PL," notes the team. "We're revolutionizing how brands think about inventory and fulfillment. They built a billing system that supports our mission."

"Billr understood that we're not just another 3PL," notes the team. "We're revolutionizing how brands think about inventory and fulfillment. They built a billing system that supports our mission."

Key Takeaways

For innovative 3PLs and logistics companies pushing boundaries like Ecomflow:

For innovative 3PLs and logistics companies pushing boundaries like Ecomflow:

1.

Your unique model deserves unique billing: Don't force your innovation into legacy billing systems

Your unique model deserves unique billing: Don't force your innovation into legacy billing systems

2.

Partnership over platform: Choose a billing provider who will build with you, not for you

Partnership over platform: Choose a billing provider who will build with you, not for you

3.

Transparency drives trust: Give your customers complete visibility into costs and calculations

Transparency drives trust: Give your customers complete visibility into costs and calculations

4.

Think globally from day one: Ensure your billing can handle multi-currency, multi-country complexity

Think globally from day one: Ensure your billing can handle multi-currency, multi-country complexity

Company name

Ecomflow

Logistics & Fulfillment

Logistics & Fulfillment

Company size

Mid-Market

Pain point

Complex multi-brand billing across 65+ countries

About the company

Ecomflow is revolutionizing global e-commerce fulfillment through tech-enabled operations from their China warehouse, adding sophisticated dashboards and real-time visibility to traditionally opaque logistics processes.

"What really sold us on billr was their partnership approach. Other billing platforms told us what they could and couldn't do - take it or leave it. Billr listened to our exact requirements and built the solution around our business. That's exactly what we needed for our unique direct-from-China fulfillment model."

Nolan Rook

Chief Technology Officer, Ecomflow

"What really sold us on billr was their partnership approach. Other billing platforms told us what they could and couldn't do - take it or leave it. Billr listened to our exact requirements and built the solution around our business. That's exactly what we needed for our unique direct-from-China fulfillment model."

Nolan Rook

Chief Technology Officer, Ecomflow